Late update – unfortunately, I'm starting to lack time for cool things as writing a story (and still have to find time to lame things as work and soon studying…), so the updates will be less frequent. But, I do plan to finish this story, it's my beloved baby! (And it wasn't even supposed to be that long, I don't know at which point it grew so much…)
So, Helena's story. A part of it, anyway. Here you go. (Thoughts? Anybody seen that coming?)
As usual, I don't own the show.
Chapter Ten
A beeping sound wakes her early; it's still dark outside. Myka stirs in her bed, looking to Tracy, who's sound asleep. Wasn't that her phone? Myka's brows furrows, as she takes a moment to realize that the answer to this question is negative. It's not Tracy's, it's her own phone. There is a text from HG. Well, hello, Ms. Wells, Myka thinks, smiling slightly, curious as to what Helena might need from her before even the sun rose.
"Are u asleep, darling?" the text says. Myka frowns. What? She chuckles, typing, "Not anymore, why? :)" The response comes quickly enough, "Good. Come watch sunrise with me, since u r awake and have nothing else 2 do." Haha, funny, Myka smirks. She's a bit tired, but being with Helena is worth it. "Where do I meet u?" She doesn't have to wait long to read, "Outside u'r house in 10. I'll be there."
###
They're by the seashore, sitting side by side on a blanket HG brought. Their legs are touching and their arms are extended behind them, so they lean on their hands. At one point Helena shuffles a little and her left hand covers Myka's right one. The younger girl smiles and rests her head on her friend's shoulder.
They don't talk for a longer while, only admiring the scene before them and appreciating the easiness between them. Eventually, Helena speaks up, although keeping her voice low, as not to disturb the quiet.
"They say sunsets are more romantic, but there just is something about a sunrise – how another day is being born, how the light wins a battle with the dark…"
Myka is silent for a moment, thinking about a response. Finally, she says, "I know what you mean. Mornings are my favorite part of the day."
"Then I'm honored you chose me to spend yet another one with," Helena says, and even though Myka can't see her face, she knows that HG is smiling.
"I couldn't ask for better company."
###
Myka is lying on her side, watching HG, who absent-mindedly plays with a locket she's wearing, while telling Myka about her home in London.
"I always wanted to visit London," shares Myka after her friend's voice trails away. "There's so much to see, places I've read about, the legacy of the past years, past people." She casts Helena a curious glance. "But what drove you here? There must be a billion places more interesting to spend summer at, than this little American town."
Helena sighs, her fist clenching around the locket, that usually stays hidden; it's actually the first day that Myka sees it, instead of merely making out a shape. HG stills for a moment, before taking it off and handing it to Myka.
"Open it," she requests gently.
Myka does and is met with a face of a smiling child, a beautiful little girl. She looks up at Helena, taking in the obvious resemblance.
"That's Christina, my sister. She's six. "
Myka smiles at the photo. "She's pretty. She takes after you." HG smirks at the implication of those two sentences put together. Myka gives her the locket back, then rubs her own neck. "What about her?"
"She's very ill," Helena answers, putting it back on. "We tried different treatments, but the doctors don't know what's wrong. Finally, they suggested a change of scenery, change of air. And Christie wanted to see America, so here we are. This particular town is a random pick," she adds.
Not knowing what to say, Myka sits up and reaches to take Helena's hand in her own. After a moment, she half asks, half states, "That's why you go through medicine books, to find a way to help her."
"Yes. But the doctors don't know how to help her, so how could I? I've tried to find something, anything…" her voice breaks.
Myka does the only thing that holds a meaning in a moment like this – she puts her arms around Helena and holds her close, offering comfort that could not be given by any words.
They stay like this, once again falling into the embrace of silence. Myka thinks briefly that it's becoming their thing. It's as if they didn't need the words at all, everything was said with a look, a smile, a touch.
###
It's almost noon when Myka comes back to the cabin. When she opens the front door and walks in, she bumps into her parents who seem to be preparing to go out. They look at her surprised.
"We thought you were asleep," her mom says.
"I will be soon, I'm going to bed, I'm tired."
"Where were you?" her father wants to know.
"Out. Watching sunrise." She passes by them. "You should try it, it's very romantic," she adds conversationally on her way to her room.
Before she closes the door, she can hear her mom, surprised, asking Mr. Bering, "Romantic? And she was all by herself?"
Tracy is still asleep. Such a sleepyhead.
Myka changes clothes and goes to bed. Closing her eyes, she thinks about meeting Helena again this evening. Good way to start and end the day.
###
Myka finishes dinner, not really listening to Tracy, who is telling their parents about her plans for the rest of the day. She also barely registers, when her mom, in response, says that she made plans for the evening with the lady they've met on the yacht a few days ago.
"What about you, honey?" Mrs. Bering asks her oldest daughter.
"I'm meeting a friend." She puts the fork down. "Thanks for dinner, I'll get going. See you later!"
She leaves the kitchen, excited and eager to see HG as soon as possible. She doesn't know – and she wouldn't care anyway – that her parents and Tracy exchange puzzled looks at her sudden departure.
###
They are supposed to meet at the market square, as Helena suggested, where some kind of celebration is taking place that night. Jazz musicians are performing on stage, while all around them street artists are doing their own tricks. There are jugglers, clowns, painters, and many, many stalls with flowers, jewelry or souvenirs. The whole place is a gamut of wonder; so colorful it almost makes Myka's eyes hurt and so laud she almost can't hear her own thoughts, yet – it's still heartwarming and, in a way, comforting.
Myka sees lots of people in groups, talking and enjoying the lazy evening. She spots Helena and starts walking toward her. Soon, she realizes HG is not alone – a little girl is holding her hand and leaning on her.
Even watching Christina from afar, Myka can tell the child is ill; she looks tired, weak. Yet, there is a small, but honest smile on her face as she watches a man juggling. Helena looks at her sister with similar expressions, a tender smile, gentle eyes. Myka is pretty sure at that point her own face is mirroring HG's.
"Hi," she says, when she comes up to them and exchanges a glance with Helena.
Christina looks up at Myka, then at HG, who says, "Christie, this is Myka. Remember when I told you about her?"
"Yes," she answers, letting go of her sister's hand and turning to Myka. "Hi Myka." She smiles a bit shyly, but friendly.
Unwittingly, Myka bents and takes the child in her arms, noticing that the girl is rather light, even though she's not very small. Christina touches the strand of Myka's hair and gives her a full smile.
"We have the same hair," she says. And they do – dark, curly locks, only Christina's are almost black, while Myka's are brown.
"We do," she agrees, looking from Christina's eyes to Helena's similar ones. "Are you having fun, girls?" She asks softly.
"We are," Helena answers, stepping closer to them and kissing the child's cheek. She then puts her hand on Myka's arm, and says gratefully, "We're glad you could join us."
###
For the next hour the three of them watch performances, while talking about trivial things. Myka absolutely adores the little girl, who seems to have liked her too.
From time to time, Myka catches Helena's sight on herself, especially when she is holding Christie. HG's dark eyes are soft and sad, and there is something in them that worries Myka a little. She can only imagine how Helena must be suffering, knowing that her beloved sister is slowly fading away and not being able to do anything to change it.